The conservation of the Virgin Annunciate and Archangel Gabriel sculptures was funded by Tanny and R. Courtney Jones, the Sibyl Eritrea sculpture was funded by the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation, and the Sibyl Cumana sculpture was funded by the Bannerman Foundation

Sculptor Girolamo Campagna added four larger-than-life plaster sculptures to the balustrade of the monks’ loft in 1582. He surely had Paolo Veronese’s blessing to do so, as the sculptures further emphasize the theatrical aspect of Veronese’s architectural setting.

The stucco sculptures are arranged in two pairs: the pair closer to the altar depicts the Virgin Mary and the Archangel Gabriel, and together they enact the Annunciation across the space the nave; the pair closer to the entrance depicts the Cumaean and Erythraean sibyls, whose prophecies foretold the coming of the Messiah.

The sculptures had previously been covered in a thick layer of grime and had suffered cracks and losses, as well as darkened oxidation of portions of the inner iron framework that had become exposed. Conservators from the CBC and Arlango restoration firms integrated the cracks and thoroughly removed the discoloring oxidation and grime. As a result, the brightness of the sculptures was renewed, demonstrating how the stucco medium was often used to imitate white marble.

For select projects, conservation dossiers in Italian containing limited textual and photographic documentation may be available for consultation by appointment at the Venice office of Save Venice and the Rosand Library & Study Center. For inquiries, please contact us at venice@savevenice.org.

Girolamo Campagna (1549–1625)
Virgin Annunciate; Archangel Gabriel
Sibyl Eritrea; Sibyl Cumana
1582, plaster stucco

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